Golden State Warriors down Washington Wizards to extend win streak to nine games

WASHINGTON -- The first-place Golden State Warriors has a pretty good ring to it.

A blistering third quarter allowed the Warriors to cruise past the Washington Wizards 112-96 on Sunday at the Verizon Center and, in the process, move into a first-place tie in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Clippers.

It's the first time that the Warriors have had a piece of first place this late in the season since March 1992.

What's the significance of the share of the division lead for coach Mark Jackson?

"Nothing," he said. "We are exactly who we thought we were. It's important for us to continue to play good, solid basketball. There's going to be peaks and valleys over the course of the year. I've got a great group that refuses to let go of the rope. We're proud of where we are but there's still a lot of work to be done."

This season-high seven-game road trip has turned into an onslaught on the franchise record book with the Warriors sitting at a perfect 5-0.

Golden State (23-13) has won nine in a row overall, its most in a single season since 1975. (It also won nine straight bridging the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons). The Warriors have equaled their second-longest road winning streak in team history with six straight.

It's only the third time that they have won as many as five games on a single road trip and the first time they have done it in back-to-back seasons after going 6-1 on a trip last season.

When you start invoking names like Rick Barry and Al Attles, that's when Jackson does get impressed.

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"It puts into perspective the history of this franchise and how far in a short period we've been able to turn it around with great moves by ownership and management and spectacular players that have bought in," Jackson said. "Now the thing is sustaining it. It's an heck of an accomplishment, but there's still a lot of work to be done."

The Warriors began the third quarter on a 30-5 run to break open what was a tied game at halftime.

"That's the kind of runs good teams put on," Andrew Bogut said. "No disrespect to the Wizards, but we thought we were a better team. If we could turn it on and get this lead out, we'd win the game."

Klay Thompson paced Golden State with 26 points, and David Lee had 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Bogut was as active as he's been all season with 15 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high tying four blocks. Stephen Curry added 14 points and 10 assists.

The Warriors were upset with allowing 36 points in the first quarter and weren't pleased overall with a first half that left the game tied at 58. They found their defense in the third quarter and that led to easy offense.

"We played the kind of basketball we're capable of playing," Lee said.

Lee shared his coach's opinion on what it means to be in first place.

"At this point in the season, we're not too concerned about that," Lee said. "We're more concerned that we're playing the right kind of ball right now. We're finding ways to get wins.

"We've been looking for that consistency since the start of the season. It looks like we've finally found it. We've just got to keep it going."

This is an important stretch for Golden State. Now that they have caught the Clippers in the standings -- and with Los Angeles' star point guard Chris Paul out for up to six weeks with a separated right shoulder -- the Warriors have a chance to build a lead.

"He's a great player, one of the best in the NBA, so you've got to take advantage," Thompson said of Paul's injury. "It's unfortunate he got hurt, but we can't let that hold us back. We've just got to go out there and win games."

Reserve forward Draymond Green left the game with a sprained left ankle and is day-to-day. Jackson said after the game that Green told him he could have continued but they wanted to be smart since they had a sizable lead.